Graffiti Artist Defacing National Parks Uses Instragram For Gallery
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (CBS4) - An investigation is underway after evidence of vandalism at several national parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park, has been posted online.
A series of colorful, somewhat eerie faces have been painted on rocks in some of the most famous national parks. The vandalism has gotten attention on social media and now an investigation by the National Park Service has been launched.
The vandal appears to be traveling across the country marking territory along the way. The culprit appears to be a New York State woman documenting her work under the Instagram account of "Creepytings." Her signature also appears in the woman's bathroom in Denver's Ginn Mill bar in lower downtown.
"I literally started getting phone calls because it was apparently hash-tagged and on Instagram. It's been hectic two days, I guess, of phone calls and people wanting to see this graffiti, and we just want to get it cleaned up so our bathrooms look clean and nice again," Ginn Mill manager Jimmy Shviraga said.
RELATED: Vandalism Investigated At Rocky Mountain National Park, Several Others
Turpentine and elbow grease cleaned up the face at the Ginn Mill, but it won't be that easy inside the national parks. Parks from California, Oregon, Utah and Colorado have confirmed the vandalism. But there are still another five parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park, where rangers have to canvas the land to find the vandalism tagged and posted on Instagram.
"It's obvious what it means to the people who love national parks -- it's upsetting. I've had peers describe it as sickening," Jeffery Olson with the National Park Service said.
Shviraga says it's sickening and rude.
"We put a lot of effort and a lot of hard work into making this business successful, and it's just kind of someone, I don't want to say crapping all over it, but just kind of paying disrespect towards it," he said.
Police have not charged the woman yet, but they're looking to talk to her.
